"Wohinaus?" - Maueranschlag bezüglich der Rückberufung des Prinzen von Preußen
- Einblattdruck
- Verlag Georg Reimer; Berlin (Druck)
- Berlin (Stadt)
- 1848
“Where to now?”
A citizen’s appeal on 14 May 1848
This poster addresses the announcement that the Prussian crown prince William, brother of King Frederick William IV and himself the future first emperor of Germany, will return to Berlin. Viewed as responsible for the violent military action against the barricade fighters of 18 March, William was reviled by large parts of the population and had fled to England. The announcement of his return led to widespread protest.
The anonymous author can understand the uproar, but he is convinced that crown prince William will not return “until the people call him back”. The real danger, in his view, is “the party plotting an overthrow”. These “anarchists” are using the question of the prince’s return – which the author considers “entirely irrelevant at present” – to topple the cabinet of ministers. This is putting “the fatherland in danger”.
The current “March government” under Gottfried Ludolf Camphausen, the author argues, has the confidence of the people. He therefore calls on citizens to express their confidence in Minister Camphausen and the government’s promise that the crown prince will not return before the Prussian national assembly convenes.
Among the common folk, however, the cabinet remains extremely unpopular. Karl Marx described it as a “lightning rod for the revolution”.